Gurneys fall from coroner's van into intersection

Former Shelton High football stars preparing for senior season with Huskies

July, 2017 fight at the Artesian Commons Park

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This week, state Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, explains how she won lots of free beer during her college days in Nebraska, and why it remains hard to convince women to run for public office. We also talk about basketball, jelly beans and how Washington state could be affected by the health care debate in Congress. Filmed Tuesday, June 6 at The Spar Cafe in Olympia. Melissa Santosmsantos@thenewstribune.com

This week, state Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, explains how she won lots of free beer during her college days in Nebraska, and why it remains hard to convince women to run for public office. We also talk about basketball, jelly beans and how Washington state could be affected by the health care debate in Congress. Filmed Tuesday, June 6 at The Spar Cafe in Olympia. Melissa Santosmsantos@thenewstribune.com

July, 2017 fight at the Artesian Commons Park

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State Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, talks with reporter Melissa Santos about how to be one of the best-dressed at the state Capitol, how he underestimated Washington state's state's love of marijuana and what kind of tax policies he prefers to comply with a court order to fully fund public schools. Also, he gives his predictions about flying cars and the date of the Legislature's final adjournment, all over a basket of tater tots (and a vegan hash). Filmed May 22, 2017 at King Solomon's Reef in Olympia.

Melissa Santosmsantos@thenewstribune.com

I sit down with state Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, to talk about why the Legislature can’t seem to agree on the best way to fix the way the state pays for schools.

But first, we talk about what everyone really wants to know: Where does he find all those plaid blazers he wears at the Capitol, and what’s it like being the de facto fashionista of the Legislature?

“It's not very difficult to be seen as a fashionista down here,” Carlyle says.

Carlyle also talks about why he underestimated how much money Washington residents would spend on legal marijuana, and whether the Legislature will adjourn before or after the debut of flying cars.

Former Shelton High football stars preparing for senior season with Huskies

July, 2017 fight at the Artesian Commons Park

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State Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, talks with reporter Melissa Santos about his bill to build students' media literacy and offers tips for spotting fake news -- all while chowing down on totchos. Also: the state Senate's history of heavy drinking, and Liias's predictions for whether the Legislature will adjourn before he has to shave his beard for the summer. Filmed May 16, 2017 at the lounge at King Solomon's Reef in Olympia.

Melissa Santosmsantos@thenewstribune.com

In the back room of one of Olympia’s most famous dives, state Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, and I dig into a plate of totchos and talk about the new law he sponsored to teach kids about media literacy. What are some ways students — and adults — can tell something is fake news?

Along the way, we talk about the history of boozing in the Senate, his co-ed frat house in Olympia and whether the Legislature might actually finish its work before he decides to shave his beard for the summer.

Former Shelton High football stars preparing for senior season with Huskies

July, 2017 fight at the Artesian Commons Park

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On our third episode of Capitol Happy Hour, state Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, explains what it means to be the Senate's majority floor leader, and why he thinks people in Washington state – especially new parents – need paid family leave. Also: Why Fain gave his colleagues sand that one time, and why he was once considered part of a Senate boy band. Plus, the best dipping sauces for tater tots. Filmed May 10, 2017 at Charlie's Bar and Grill in Olympia.

Melissa Santosmsantos@thenewstribune.com

In this episode, Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, talks about why he and other lawmakers are fighting to get paid time off for new parents or people with family emergencies. As a new dad, he has some thoughts.

We also delve into the inner workings of the state Senate, including why wine and chocolate sometimes appear randomly and what Fain does as the Senate’s majority floor leader.

Extended chitchat about tater tot dipping sauces is just a bonus.

Debating police use of force and the ways of millennials with Rep. Morgan Irwin

July, 2017 fight at the Artesian Commons Park

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Reporter Melissa Santos sits down with freshman state Rep. Morgan Irwin, a Seattle police officer, to get his take on proposed changes to Washington's law on police use of deadly force. Is our state's bar for prosecuting police too high? Also: Can millennials really not find stamps when it comes time to vote in Washington's all mail-elections? And what's the most embarrassing mistake he's made in his first few months at the Capitol? As always, there are tater tots. Filmed May 2, 2017 at Charlie's Bar and Grill in Olympia.

Melissa Santosmsantos@thenewstribune.com

Freshman state Rep. Morgan Irwin, R-Enumclaw, shares his thoughts as a Seattle cop on what the state should — and shouldn’t — be doing to adjust its law that protects police from criminal prosecution when they fire their weapons. Washington’s law is unique in the nation by requiring prosecutors to prove an officer acted with “malice” and without “good faith” when using deadly force.

He and I also talk about the awkwardness of transitioning from average guy to state lawmaker, and whether people underestimate our generation of millennials. For instance, do people really think millennials — often described as those 35 and under — can’t use the mail?

Former Shelton High football stars preparing for senior season with Huskies

July, 2017 fight at the Artesian Commons Park

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State Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, sits down with reporter Melissa Santos to eat tater tots and talk about why the Legislature is in overtime, again. What happens during the first week of a special session? When will the Legislature actually agree on a budget? Also, how the TV show Law and Order informs Jinkins' work chairing the House Judiciary Committee, and why she spends time at the Capitol photographing crazy socks. Filmed April 27, 2017 at Charlie's Bar and Grill in Olympia.

Melissa Santosmsantos@thenewstribune.com

State Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, shares how her love of ‘Law and Order: SVU’ sometimes intersects with her work chairing the House Judiciary Committee, and why she started tweeting pictures of oddball socks this year at the Legislature.

She also attempts to explain why state lawmakers once again couldn’t finish its work on time this year, and why special sessions have become such a routine.